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MEMORIAL on the 50th Anniversary of the Kafr Qasem Massacre
The Memorial was part of an exhibition titled Three Arab Painters in New York curated
by writer and historian Maymanah Farhat. The exhibition took place in New York at The Bridge
gallery during the month of June 2006.
I have feelings of great love for Kafr Qasem and its heroic residents. They bring tears to my
eyes when I contemplate their tragic story. These recent events taught me a lot about
Sumoud (persistence). In 1948, Kafr Qasem had eighteen thousand dunums
(a land measure). Amazingly as much as thirteen thousand still remain. Perhaps, this is
because the Israeli government does not wish to call attention to this brutal massacre.
Most other Palestinian Arab villages and towns have very little left of their traditional
lands as the process of Israeli confiscation continues unabated. In 1956, Kafr Qasem was a
village of approximately 1500 residents, now Kafr Qasem has become a town of over 15,000. In
Kafr Qasem, 60% of residents once lived off of their land; now 80% are exploited workers.
Additionally Israeli taxation without a proportional return of social services, adds to the
difficulties Kafr Qasem residents. Civil equality is a dream. There is no level of life where
Israeli policy does not dictate limitations intended to reduce Palestinian Arabs to poverty or
promote immigration. A mandatory and unfair educational curriculum, implemented by the Israeli
government, reduces children�s pride and promotes ignorance. Additionally, Israeli taxation
without a proportional return of social services, adds to the difficulties of Kafr Qasem
residents.
It�s the essence of Sumoud that Kafr Qasem resists, Palestine resists, Iraq resists,
and Lebanon resists
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